♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS THIS WEEK.

I AM JACOB AERE.

COMING UP, DEMOLITION OF THE SAN ONOFRE DOME, WORK BEGINS ON DISMANTLING THE ICONIC LANDMARKS.

PLUS, IN GRAFFITI GARDENS, MEET THE ARTIST WHO IS SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF STREET ART.

>>> WAYMO IS COMING TO SAN DIEGO, SEE HOW FIRST RESPONDERS ARE LEARNING TO SHARE THE ROAD WITH DRIVERLESS TAXIS.

>>> WRAPPING UP A YEAR THAT HAS BROUGHT MUCH STRESS TO MANY LATINO AND MIXED IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, THE HOLIDAYS CAN PROVIDE SOME RELIEF BUT THE TRADITION THIS YEAR ARE BEING DISRUPTED.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER, HEIDI DiMARCO, SAYS HEIGHTENED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS CHANGING HOW AND IF FAMILIES CELEBRATE AT ALL.

>> Reporter: DURING THE HOLIDAYS, LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE USUALLY FILLED WITH MUSIC, DANCING, AND TRADITION.

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY.

BUT, THIS YEAR, MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES SAY THE SEASON FEELS DIFFERENT.

FEAR HAS REPLACED CELEBRATION.

GLORIA SANCHEZ IS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT FROM SINALOA, MEXICO.

SHE IS 49 YEARS OLD AND HAS LIVED IN THE U.S.

FOR 25 YEARS.

KPBS IS PROTECTING HER IDENTITY, BECAUSE OF HER FEAR OF DEPORTATION.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: SHE HAS HAD CLOSE CALLS WITH IMMIGRATION, AND, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SHE SAYS, SHE IS STILL HERE.

SHE VERY RARELY LEAVES HER HOUSE, AND SHE IS NOT ALONE.

A RECENT KFS "NEW YORK TIMES" SURVEY FOUND 53% OF LIKELY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HAVE AVOIDED TRAVELING THIS YEAR, WORRIED ABOUT DRAWING ATTENTION TO THEIR STATUS.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HER HUSBAND IS A GARDENER, AND IS ALSO UNDOCUMENTED.

SHE SAYS THE THOUGHT OF LOSING HIM IS DEVASTATING.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HE'S THE ONE WHO SUPPORTS THE HOUSEHOLD.

IF THEY DEPORT HIM, SHE SAYS, THE FAMILY WILL FALL APART.

THE ISOLATION, SHE SAYS, WEIGHS ON HER.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER DOGS ARE WOULD BRING HER JOY, EASING HER STRESS AND KEEPING HER COMPANY DURING LONG DAYS INSIDE.

STILL, SHE TRIES.

SHE SAID SHE FINALLY FOUND THE MOTIVATION TO DECORATE HER HOME.

FAITH REMAINS CENTRAL TO HER LIFE, ESPECIALLY NOW.

BUT, EVEN THE SIMPLEST TRADITIONS FEEL RISKY THIS YEAR.

DIA DE LA GUADALUPE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS IN LATINO CULTURE, TYPICALLY FAMILIES GATHER FOR EARLY MORNING MASS, MUSIC, PRAYER, AND GRATITUDE.

>> Translator: IT'S A RISK SHE'S WILLING TO TAKE.

>> Reporter: IT'S 4:30 IN THE MORNING, WHEN SANCHEZ ARRIVES AT THE CHURCH.

INSIDE, INCENSE FILLS THE AIR.

>> [ SINGING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: MARIOTTI SEEING AND PRAISE.

AS THE DANCERS' FEET DRUM AGAINST THE FLOOR, AND PRAYERS RIPPLE THROUGH THE PEWS.

SANCHEZ RAISES HER HANDS, AND PRAYS.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME HERE, BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT IS A LITTLE BIT A PART OF THEIR TRADITION.

>> Reporter: HARLEM IS A PRIEST AT LOGAN.

HE SAYS IT SANCHEZ'S FEAR IS SHARED BY MANY AT HIS CONGREGATION.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST.

PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS MIGHT TURN THEM IN TO IMMIGRATION, SO THIS CARRIES A LOT OF BURDEN, A LOT OF STRESS, A LOT OF ANXIETY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS ATTENDANCE IS DOWN.

>> PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME HERE, FOR SURE.

IN OUR PARISH, WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN MASS ATTENDANCE ON SUNDAYS.

>> Reporter: HE ESTIMATES THE PARISH HAS LOST ABOUT 300 MEMBERS DUE TO IMMIGRATION RAIDS, BUT, FOR THOSE WHO DO MAKE IT INSIDE, HE SAYS FAITH OFFERS RELEASE.

>> FORGOT ABOUT IMMIGRATION RAIDS, FORGOT ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH, AND PEOPLE JUST BEING JOYFUL.

PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING THEIR FAITH, THEIR EXPRESSIONS, AND PEOPLE GIVING THANKS TO GUADALUPE.

>> Reporter: TRADITIONS BEYOND THE CHURCH HAVE ALSO CHANGED.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: IN MANY LATINO AND MEXICAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, TAMALES ARE MADE AND SHARED DURING CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS.

FERNANDO LYONS SELLS TAMALES IN LOGAN.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HE SAYS, SALES ARE DOWN THIS YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

MANY ARE SAVING MONEY, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS.

SANCHEZ SAYS, SHE WON'T BE COOKING OR CELEBRATING THE WAY SHE USED TO.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HOPE PERSISTS FOR SANCHEZ, AND MANY OTHERS.

THEY ARE HOLDING ONTO THE LIFE THEY'VE BUILT IN A PLACE THEY CALL HOME.

>> [ SINGING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HEIDI DiMARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE MAY FEEL EXTRA STRESSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

KPBS "MID-DAY EDITION" TALKED WITH A THERAPIST ABOUT COPING STRATEGIES.

YOU CAN LISTEN NOW AT KPBS.ORG/MIDDAYEDITION, OR WHEREVER YOU GOT YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> SOMETHING WILL BE MISSING FROM I-5 ROAD TRIPS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

THE TWO DOMES AT SAN ONOFRE ARE BEING DEMOLISHED.

ALEXANDER WINN HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LATEST STEP IN CLOSING THE OLD POWER PLANT.

>> Reporter: FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, CREWS HAVE BEEN TAKING APART THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR PLANT, PIECE BY PIECE.

>> WE REMOVED ABOUT 400,000.

>> Reporter: GONE, ARE THE AUXILIARY BUILDINGS.

NOW, ALL THAT REMAINS ARE THE ICONIC DOMES, WHICH HAVE BEEN A SAN DIEGO LANDMARK SINCE THE EARLY 1980s.

>> YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, WHEN YOU SEE THESE DOMES.

>> Reporter: BUT, THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED, TOO.

>> PROBABLY AROUND, SAY, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: ROBIN PONTUS IS THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR SAN ONOFRE, HE SAYS PREP WORK FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE DOMES IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, BUT THERE WON'T BE A DRAMATIC IMPLOSION.

INSTEAD, CREWS WILL USE EXCAVATORS TO SLOWLY TEAR THEM DOWN.

>> THOSE LARGE EXCAVATORS WILL WORK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, THEY WILL POUND AWAY AT THE BUILDING IN, LIKE, 6 TO 8 FOOT LIFTS, IF YOU WILL.

THE BUILDING, THE WEIGHT OF THE BUILDING, WILL ACTUALLY FALL DOWN, IF YOU WILL.

>> Reporter: PONTUS SAYS THAT IS SAFER THAN IMPLOSION BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE RISK OF RELEASING NUCLEAR RADIATION.

>> EARLIER IN THIS BUSINESS, IN THE DEMOLISHING OF THESE PLANS, THERE WAS THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES TO BRING DOWN THOSE BUILDINGS AND THAT GENERATES A LOT OF DUST.

>> Reporter: HE SAY THAT CREWS TAKE PRECAUTIONS FROM THE DUST, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEMOLITION DOESN'T POLLUTE THE AIR.

AROUND THE SITE, THERE ARE SEVERAL AIR-QUALITY MONITORS AND CREWS BREAK DOWN CONCRETE CHUNKS INTO RUBBLE INSIDE THESE TENTS.

>> THE TENT THAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE IS CONNECTED TO THE BUILDING AND IT IS ALSO UNDER NEGATIVE PRESSURE, SO AS THAT RUBBLE IS REMOVED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE TENT AND HANDLED TO BE PLACED IN SAIGON POLO CARS, IT, TOO, IS BEING CONTROLLED SO THERE IS NOT AN UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVITY, AT ALL.

>> Reporter: ONCE THE DOME IS DEMOLISHED, THE ONLY THING THAT WILL REMAIN IS THE SEAWALL, THE SWITCHYARD, AND THE DRY STORAGE AREA.

AND THAT WILL REMAIN, UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDES WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

>> THIS HOUSES ALL OF THE SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL WE PRODUCED WHEN OPERATING UNITS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO APPROVE OF A SITE FOR DISPOSING OF SAN ONOFRE'S NUCLEAR WASTE.

>> IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK UP FUEL FROM OUR COMMERCIAL REACTORS STARTING IN 1998, NOW IT IS ALMOST 2026.

>> Reporter: PONTUS EXPECTS THE DOMES TO BE FULLY DEMOLISHED BY THE END OF 2027.

ALEXANDER WINN, KPBS NEWS.

>> RIGHT NEXT TO THE SAN ONOFRE, IT IS CAMP PENDLETON.

>>> THAT IS WHERE THOUSANDS OF ARMED FORCES ARE TRAINING FOR AN UPCOMING DEPLOYMENT.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER, ANDREW DYER, SPENT A DAY ON THE GROUND WITH THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION.

>> Reporter: ON LAND -- SEE -- AND AIR, CAMP PENDLETON'S ONE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES ARE GETTING UNITS READY FOR DEPLOYMENT.

THE ANNUAL EXERCISE, STEEL KNIGHT, THIS YEAR, WILL CERTIFY THE FIFTH MARINE REGIMENT FOR A ROTATIONAL DEPLOYMENT STARTING IN AUSTRALIA.

THERE, THE MARINE AIR GUARD TASK FORCE WILL BE READY TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING IN THE INDO PACIFIC.

>> WHAT WE ARE GOING FOR, IS CREATING HARD, REALISTIC TRAINING FOR THE MARINES.

>> Reporter: FIRST LIEUTENANT CALEB COLBORNE IS THE WEAPONS PLATOON COMMANDER FOR CHARITY COMPANY FIRST BATTALION FIFTH MARINES.

HIS PLATOON IS WORKING TODAY AT K2 COMBAT TOWN AT CAMP PENDLETON.

>> I AM THINKING BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE EVACUATION OF KABUL IN 2021, THE CHAOS THAT ENSUED, THERE.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE THE SAME SORT OF STRESSORS THAT MARINES SAW, FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> Reporter: TO RE-CREATE THE EVENTS, MARINES SECURED AN EMBASSY, THEN STAND GUARD AS PROTESTERS, BREAK INTO THE MARINES PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE BRAINS OF THE GATES.

THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION SURGEON.

ALL THE MEDICS IN THE MARINES ARE NAMING KORMAN TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE A MASS CASUALTY EVENT.

HE SAYS THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST BATTLEFIELD MEDICS.

>> THEY ARE AMAZING, THEY ARE OUR STRONGEST ASSET, TO BE HONEST.

THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF THEIR POSITION.

THEY GO WHERE WE CAN'T GO, AND THEY DO THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T -- OR, ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO DO.

>> Reporter: REALISM IS EVERYTHING DURING STEEL KNIGHT.

THE MARINES ARE LIVING IN THE FIELD, AFTER SECURING THE END IS THE OVERNIGHT, THEY WERE ABLE TO SLEEP INDOORS.

>> SOME, IN SLEEPING BAGS.

SOME, WRAPPED IN A TARP.

AND THEN, WE ARE ALL EATING MREs.

>> Reporter: THE EXERCISE WAS TWO WEEKS, FROM DECEMBER 1st THROUGH THE 14th.

HIM AND HIS PLATOON WILL MOVE ON FROM THE EMBASSY.

>> AND THEN, WE ARE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A DEFENSIVE POSITION, LATER THIS WEEK.

SO, LIVING CONDITIONS WILL CHANGE.

WE WILL BE LIVING AND FIGHTING OUT OF A HOLE IN THE GROUND THAT WE HAVE DOUG.

>> Reporter: THE EMBASSY FALLS, AND KORMAN TREATS THE INJURED AS MARINES LEAVE IN AIRBORNE EVACUATIONS.

A FEW MILES AWAY, AT RED BEACH, MARINES ARE ABOUT TO SPLASH INTO THE WATER FROM THE DOCK LANDING SHIP "USS PEARL HARBOR."

THE BABY IS LENDING INVOLVES L KATZ, AND THE NEW NVIDIA'S VEHICLES, AND IT TOOK THE MARINES MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO DEVELOP AND FIELD THIS, REPLACING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA SALT AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE.

>> IF IT'S GOING WELL.

>> Reporter: LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRED IS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE THIRD ASSAULT THE FABIAN -- AMPHIBIAN BATTALION ON THE WEST COAST, THE FIRST DEPLOYMENT WAS PUSHED BACK ALMOST TWO YEARS IN 2022, AFTER TWO ROLLED OVER IN HIGH SURF OFF OF CAMP PENDLETON.

THE VEHICLE'S FIRST OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT WAS IN SPRING 2024.

>> THE BATTALION RIGHT NOW HAS FIVE ELEMENTS THAT ARE CHURNING FOR DEPLOYMENT WHERE IN THE PAST, WE ARE TRAINING FOR ONE, SO ALL OF THE THINGS WE COULD ARGUE WERE MISSTEPS YEARS AGO, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW, THOSE HAVE BEEN APPLIED.

>> Reporter: TACTICAL VEHICLES ARE TOP-HEAVY AND PRONE TO ROLLOVERS.

JUST DAYS BEFORE WE SPOKE WITH MONDAY, A MARINE AT CAMP PENDLETON WAS KILLED IN AN INCIDENT WITH A TACTICAL VEHICLE.

CITING AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, MARINES WON'T SAY WHAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED, ONLY SAYING IT WAS UNRELATED TO STEEL KNIGHT.

MONDAY SAYS SAFETY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF PLANNING FOR ANY MILITARY EXERCISE.

>> WE APPROACH IT THROUGH TWO LENSES.

ONE, THERE IS A SAFETY STRUCTURE THAT IS IN PLACE.

SO, THINK OF SAFETY OFFICERS, THINK OF SAFETY BRIEFS, THINK OF ALL THE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MARINES KNOW WHAT RIGHT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT RIGHT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE.

>> Reporter: THE REGULATIONS ARE THERE, BUT MONDAY SAYS THERE IS NO DENYING THE WORK THEY DO, IS DANGEROUS.

>> A SECOND PART IS THAT A TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT CREW ACTIVATES INHERENTLY SAFE AND DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS.

SO, WE DO SPEAK SAFETY, BUT WE WERE -- DO RISK MITIGATION BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

WHEN WE FOCUS PRIMARILY ON SAFETY ALONE WE MAY LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE PREPARING TO GO TO WAR, BUT I WILL STAND BEHIND THE FACT THAT IF YOU DO IT TO THE TACTICAL STANDARD, YOU ARE INHERENTLY SAFE.

>> Reporter: ALMOST 3000 SAILORS AND MARINES WERE PART OF THIS YEAR'S EXERCISE.

INFANTRY, ALONG WITH OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE WILL DEPLOY TO AUSTRALIA SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

HERE ARE SOME OTHERS.

>>> ONE OF OUR KPBS "MIDDAY ADDITION" SEGMENTS IS GENERATING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ONLINE.

TELEVISION AND NEWS IN SAN DIEGO IS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT.

>>> PLUS, A CITY IN IMPERIAL VALLEY SUES TO FORCE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF A MASSIVE DATA CENTER PROJECT.

>>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SIGNS AN UPGRADED AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO OVER TIJUANA SEWAGE.

YOU CAN GET OUR MOST POPULAR LIST EVERY FRIDAY.

JUST SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> MAX MOSES IS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MURALIST BUT HE BEGAN BY SPRAY PAINTING GRAFFITI ILLEGALLY IN NEW YORK.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER, BETH OKAMOTO, HAS THIS PROFILE OF THE ARTIST WHO RUNS GRAFFITI GARDENS IN CANTO.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A REASON GRAFFITI ARTISTS ARE CALLED WRITERS.

IT IS BECAUSE WRITING HER NAME BIG AND BOLD IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS EMPOWERING, IT DEFINES WHO YOU ARE.

IT IS YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD AND THE INTRODUCTION TO YOUR STORY.

JUST ASK MR.

MAX MOSES.

>> I STARTED IN NEW YORK PAINTING SUBWAY TRAINS, YOU KNOW?

WHEN I WAS A KID, PEOPLE HATED IT.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE IT WASN'T ABOUT ASKING FOR PERMISSION, IT WAS DONE GUERRILLA STYLE AND OFTEN LOOKED UPON AS VANDALISM.

LOGAN REMEMBERS HIS FIRST REACTION TO SEEING STUDENTS PAINTING ON CANVAS IS IN FINE ARTS CLASS.

>> I WAS MAD AT THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAD, LIKE, SAFETY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I WAS LIKE, I AM GETTING CHASED BY THE POLICE AND YOU ARE OVER HERE LAUGHING AND PAINTING.

>> Reporter: BUT, THAT WAS TAKEN GO.

NOW, MOSES IS AN ACCLAIMED ARTIST IN MOSCOW, DUBAI, SAN DIEGO, AND ACROSS THE U.S.

AND NOW, HE WORKS WITH BOTH A BRUSH AND A SPRAY CAN.

>> THERE IS, LIKE, A CERTAIN QUIETNESS ABOUT PAINTING WITH A PAINTBRUSH.

THIS IS LOUD, AND BOISTEROUS, AND AGGRESSIVE.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS MOSES IN 2013 WHEN I FIRST MET HIM.

>> THIS IS LIKE A BRUSH WITH AIR, IT IS ALL ABOUT MASTERING HOW HARD YOU PRESS, HOW SOFT YOU PRESS, HOW CLOSE YOU ARE, THE TYPE OF CAP THAT YOU HAVE ON, LIKE WHAT I JUST DID IS A FAT CAPSULE IT IS NATURALLY SPLAYING WIDE.

>> Reporter: HIS LOVE FOR GRAFFITI LED HIM TO CREATE A UNIQUE ART SPACE.

>> SITTING IN THE HEART OF SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, AND GRAFFITI GARDENS IS THIS SANCTUARY FOR ART, AND ARTISTS, AND ART LOVERS.

>> Reporter: MOSES FOUND THE SPACE DURING COVID.

>> I LOVE TO PAINT BIG AND I WAS GOING TO PEOPLE AND ASKING, CAN I PAINT THEIR WALL?

I AM SO TIRED OF ASKING PEOPLE, CAN I PAINT THEIR WALL?

LIKE, I NEED MY OWN PLACE TO JUST PAINT.

SO, MY MENTOR TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PLACE, AND LANDLORD SHOWED ME THIS LOCATION.

I WAS LIKE, WHOA, THIS IS AWESOME!

SHE WAS SHOWING ME THE INSIDE AND I WAS LIKE, NO, I DON'T WANT TO RENT THAT SPOT, I JUST WANT TO RENT THE WALLS.

>> Reporter: WALLS BEGGING FOR HIS BOLD COLORS AND DYNAMIC LINES, BUT FINDING LARGE CANVASES IS A CHALLENGE.

SO, THE ART THAT GROWS AT GRAFFITI GARDENS IS EVER- CHANGING.

>> THEY ALWAYS CHANGE AND WE DO EVENTS WHERE WE INVITE ARTISTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, OR OTHER CITIES, TOO, AND JUST CHANGE, AND TRANSFORM THE PLACE ALL AT ONE TIME.

>> Reporter: ACCEPTING THE IMPERMANENCE OF HIS ART MAY COME FROM HIS EARLY ROOTS, TAGGING AS A KID IN NEW YORK.

>> COMING FROM THE WHOLE GRAFFITI MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE OUT IN THE STREET AND PAINTING, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT LIKE YOU SO MUCH, AND THEN THEY GO OVER WHAT YOU DO, AND ONCE IT IS OUT IN THE STREET, IT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU ANYMORE, AND IT'S JUST A RELEASE.

SO, I JUST TRIED TO KEEP THAT SAME MENTALITY OF, IT'S DONE, IT'S RELEASED, IT'S OUT THERE, BECAUSE I'M STILL ALIVE, I CAN CREATE SOME MORE.

>> Reporter: MOSES LIVES TO CREATE, SO IN ADDITION TO PAINTING MURALS ON THE OUTDOOR WALLS, HE HAS AN INDOOR STUDIO, WHERE HE CREATES SMALLER WORKS ON CANVAS.

>> IT IS LIKE THAT FIRST LAYER OF PAINTING, IT IS LIKE, JUST RUBBING IT IN.

>> Reporter: HE ALSO TEACHES AND WILL HOST A TWO DAY WORKSHOP NEXT MONTH.

>> WE ARE DOING THIS THING CALLED GRAFFITI AND BEYOND, WHICH IS TEACHING YOU, LIKE, THE BASIC FORMS OF GRAFFITI AS AN ART FORM AND HOW IT HAS GROWN IN THE CULTURE THAT IT COMES FROM, BUT ALSO MURAL MAKING, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT, HOW DO YOU SCALE UP A DRAWING AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

>> Reporter: MOSES IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT WHEN GRAFFITI GARDENS WAS FLOODED LAST JANUARY, DURING THE HEAVY STORMS, AND HE COULDN'T WORK FOR MONTHS.

>> IT IS KIND OF DIFFICULT, RIGHT?

IT IS LIKE, AFTER THE FLOOD, IT IS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, DANG, IT'S ALMOST, LIKE, A CLEANSING OF, WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, NEXT?

SO, RESILIENCE.

I, PERSONALLY, HAVE A LOT OF RESILIENCE IN MY BEING.

BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR, YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT AND BE ABLE TO FACE THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, AND MOVE FORWARD.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES US STRONGER, WHAT MAKES US MORE ASSERTIVE, AND STRONG, AND BEAUTIFUL.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN'T SEE THE BEAUTY OF GRAFFITI GARDENS FROM THE STREET.

IN FACT, THERE ISN'T EVEN A SIGN TO ADVERTISE ITS EXISTENCE.

BUT, YOU CAN FIND THIS OASIS OF ART AT 6785 IMPERIAL AVENUE.

RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE SAN DIEGO BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT.

BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>> IF YOU WANT MORE LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE, CHECK OUT THE KPBS PODCAST, "THE FINEST."

YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON NOW AND GET READY FOR SEASON TWO IN THE NEW YEAR.

YOU CAN ERROR ALL THE EPISODES AT KPBS.ORG/THEFINEST, OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> BEING A FOREIGN STUDENT IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME MORE CHALLENGING AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CLAMPS DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST, MATTHEW BOWLER, SAYS A NEW GROUP OF CALIFORNIA AND BAJA UNIVERSITIES IS STEPPING UP TO ASSIST STUDENTS WHO LOOK TO STUDY NORTH OF THE BORDER.

>> Reporter: IT IS A QUIET TIME OF YEAR AT THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BAJA CALIFORNIA.

IT IS THE END OF THE SEMESTER AND MOST OF THE 28,000 STUDENTS ARE DONE WITH THEIR FINAL EXAMS.

BUT, SHE GOT HER INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BACHELORS DEGREE HERE BUT AFTER THAT, HAD TROUBLE FINDING ANYWHERE IN BAJA CALIFORNIA TO GO FOR GUIDANCE.

>> I FINALLY WENT FOR MY MASTERS.

HOWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT.

I MADE MISTAKES.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY SHE IS EXCITED TO WORK FOR THE NEW EDUCATION USA OFFICE ON THE CAMPUS OF HELPING STUDENTS SO THAT THEY DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THEY DID.

EDUCATION USA IS A STATE DEPARTMENT NETWORK THAT HELPS FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDY AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY REPORTEDLY FURLOUGHED MOST OF THEIR DEFENSIVE STAFF, EVEN WITH THEIR CHALLENGES.

EDUCATION USA STILL HAS 400 OFFICES WORLDWIDE, WITH 16 OF THEM IN MEXICO.

THE LATEST OFFICE IS ON THE CAMPUS AND SERVES BOTH BAJA CALIFORNIA AND BAJA SEWER STUDENTS.

>> THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE REGION, ALL OF THEM.

THEY ALL HAVE POTENTIAL.

>> Reporter: EDUCATION USA IS JUST ONE PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO INCREASE STUDENT AND PROFESSOR MOBILITY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.

UC SAN DIEGO'S DR.

RAFAEL FERNANDEZ THE CASTRO IS DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR MEXICAN STUDIES.

>> WE WANT MORE MEXICANS COMING IN, TOO, TO SAN DIEGO AND CALIFORNIA, AND ALSO MORE CALIFORNIANS AND AMERICANS TO GO INTO MEXICO.

IT'S BOTH WAYS.

>> Reporter: HE LEADS THE NEW CALLIE BAJA EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, OR C.H.E.K., AN INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND BAJA UNIVERSITIES, EDUCATORS WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF INCREASING CROSS-BORDER MOBILITY OF STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS.

THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS REPORTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CONTRIBUTE $6.3 BILLION, TOOK CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY ALONE.

FERNANDEZ DE CASTRO SAYS THAT THIS NEW CONSORTIUM IS A NEW CALIFORNIA EFFORT THAT COMBATS THE INCREASING POLARIZATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> THIS IS LOCAL, THIS IS GOING LOCAL.

THERE ARE TWO MORE IN THE CAPITAL, LET'S GO LOCAL AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE LAUNCHING THIS CONSORTIUM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO HELPING GUIDE MEXICAN STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

>> THERE IS A CALLIE BAJA REGION INTERCONNECTED AND IT WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE PENINSULA.

THAT IS WHY THIS CENTER IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE THE ADVISER.

>> Reporter: MATTHEW BOWLER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WAYMO HAS MADE HEADLINES RECENTLY WITH ITS PLANS TO OPERATE IN SAN DIEGO.

IN RECENT DAYS, THE GOVERNORS HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION PUT OUT A TRAINING VIDEO ON HOW FIRST RESPONDERS SHOULD INTERACT WITH DRIVERLESS TAXIS.

KPBS REPORTER, KATIE HYSON, SAYS WHETHER SAN DIEGO NEEDS IT IS UNDER DEBATE.

>> WAYMO IS TAKING WHAT WAS ONCE FUTURISTIC SCI-FI AND MAKING IT NONFICTION.

>> Reporter: THE TRAINING TEACHES FIRST RESPONDERS WHAT WAYMO ROBOTAXI'S ARE, HOW TO DISABLE THE SELF DRIVING MODE, WHERE TO FIND PROOF OF INSURANCE, AND WHERE TO AVOID CUTTING THE CARS IF THEY ARE RESCUING SOMEONE FROM INSIDE.

WAYMO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO IT EXTEND TO SAN DIEGO NEXT YEAR STARTING WITH DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY NEED PERMITS.

AND LAST MONTH, THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEMS TAXI ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOTED TO FORMALLY PROTEST.

SEAN RIVERA CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

>> THAT POSES WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER AN EXTRA CENTRAL THREAT TO THOSE WHO ARE EITHER DRIVING A TAXI CAB OR DRIVING RIDE- SHARE.

I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> Reporter: THEY ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WAYMO RECALLED SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES LAST WEEK AFTER THEY PASSED STOPPED SCHOOL BUSES IN AUSTIN AND ATLANTA.

AND DEBATE SPARKED IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS FALL AFTER WAYMO RAN OVER AND KILLED A BELOVED BULLET BODEGA CAT.

WAYMO'S OWN RESEARCH SUGGESTS ITS OWN CARS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY SAFER THAN HUMAN DRIVERS.

THE TRAINING PRESENTS WAYMO AS AN INEVITABLE FUTURE.

>> LIKE ALL GREAT TECHNOLOGY, ALL THAT NUMBERCRUNCHING, ALL THAT DATA JUST FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND.

>> Reporter: THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO DID NOT IMMEDIATELY ANSWER WHETHER THE TRAINING WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ITS FIRST RESPONDERS.

KATIE HYSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE END THE SHOW WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF TECH -- ONE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD 122 YEARS AGO, THIS WEEK.

THAT IS WHEN ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT MANAGED TO GET THEIR MOTORIZED AIRPLANE INTO THE AIR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

KPBS REPORTER, JOHN CARROLL, ATTENDED AN ANNIVERSARY EVENT AT THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM THAT DIDN'T GO QUITE AS PLANNED.

>> Reporter: THIS IS AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ENGINE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS USED TO POWER THEIR AIRPLANE.

THIS STORY WAS SUPPOSED TO BEGIN WITH THE SOUND OF IT FIRING UP, BUT TODAY, THE ENGINE DECIDED NOT TO COOPERATE.

>> OUR FIRST PROBLEM THIS MORNING, WAS THE FUEL.

WE WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH FUEL.

>> Reporter: ROBERT McCLURE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE MU SAMS MACHINIST SHOP.

HE KNOWS THIS OLD ENGINE INSIDE AND OUT.

>> AND WE HAD ENOUGH FUEL AND WE HAD NO IGNITION AND WE COULDN'T GET -- SOMETHING GOT SHORTED OUT, SO WE HAD NO IGNITION TO FIRE THE FUEL OFF.

>> Reporter: THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS ACTUALLY BUILT BY THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' MECHANIC MACHINIST, CHARLES TAYLOR.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, JIM KENDRICK, SAID WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING PROBABLY HAPPENED TO TAYLOR AND THE WRIGHT BROTHERS MANY TIMES.

>> IT IS REALLY PROBABLY INDICATIVE OF WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES BEFORE THAT FIRST FLIGHT, REALIZING THAT FIRST ONE WAS ONLY 12 SECONDS AND 120 FEET.

>> Reporter: JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE, HERE INSIDE THE MUSEUM'S ROTUNDA IS AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE AIRPLANE THAT ENGINE POWERED, THE WRIGHT FLYER.

AND ALL AROUND IT HERE IN THE ROTUNDA AND THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM, OTHER AMAZING MILESTONES OF FLIGHT.

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' ACHIEVEMENT SET THE WORLD OF POWERED AVIATION IN MOTION.

IN 1911, GLENN CURTIS SOLD THE NAVY ITS FIRST AIRPLANES, RIGHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> AND THEN, WE HAVE, ON MAY 20th, 1987, LINDBERGH CROSSES THE ATLANTIC SOLO, WHEN PEOPLE HAD DIED TRYING TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: FUN FACT, EVEN THOUGH CHARLES LINDBERGH'S AIRPLANE WAS CALLED THE SPIRIT OF ST.

LOUIS, IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT BY RYAN AIRCRAFT, IN SAN DIEGO.

AND, OF COURSE, AMELIA EARHART CROSSES THE ATLANTIC SOLO, FIVE YEARS TO THE DAY LATER, AFTER LINDBERGH AND THE 1947, WE BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER AND NOBODY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

1969, WE WALK ON THE MOON AND WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE MOON AND I THINK WE WILL GET TO MARS, EVENTUALLY.

FROM THE POSSIBLE FUTURE, BACK TO THE KNOWABLE PAST, AND OUR OLD FRIEND, HERE, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE WANTED TO START THIS MORNING, BUT -- >> ONE YEAR FROM TODAY, IT WILL BE RUNNING.

>> Reporter: QUIET FROM THIS MORNING, BUT A PIECE OF MACHINERY THAT SPEAKS TO THE AGES.

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT LAUNCHED HUMANS INTO THE SKIES ABOVE THE EARTH AND SPACE BEYOND.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM JACOB AERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

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